18 Iraqi leaders on US wanted list captured

May 7 2003

With the capture of Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, a US-trained microbiologist dubbed "Mrs Anthrax", the US military now holds 18 of 55 top Iraqi officials on its most-wanted list.

The number would rise to 19 if the US military confirms the capture on May 2 of Mizban Khidir Hadi, a former member of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), the regime's top policy-making body, which was reported by the Washington Post.

The most-wanted Iraqis appear on a deck of playing cards released by the US Central Command. Following is a list of the officials captured to date according to US Central Command:

Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, the five of hearts in the deck of US playing cards, was number 53 on the list and the only woman featured on it. She was appointed to Iraq's ruling Baath Party's regional command in 2001 and is believed to have been a leader of its biological warfare program.

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Taha Muhyl al-Din Maruf, vice-president and a member of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), the regime's top policy-making body, was number 42 on the list and figures as the nine of diamonds. His capture was announced on May 2 by the US Central Command.

Abd al-Tawab Mullah Huwaysh, deputy prime minister and director of Saddam's Office of Military Industrialisation and number 16 on the list, was depicted as the 10 of hearts. His capture was also announced on May 2.

Walid Hamid Tawfiq al-Tikriti, former Basra governor, surrendered on April 29, is number 44 and figures as the ace of spades.

Amer Mohammad Rashid, former oil minister, key figure in Iraq's missile development and husband of Rihab Taba, head of Iraq's biological weapons programme, surrendered to coalition forces on April 28. Six of spades in the deck of cards and number 47 on the list.

General Hossam Mohammad Amin. Number 49 on the list, six of clubs in the deck of cards. Head of the National Monitoring Directorate, a liaison group with the UN arms inspectors. Capture announced on April 27.

Tareq Aziz. Number 43, eight of spades. Deputy prime minister and government spokesman. Surrendered on April 24.

Muzahim Saab Hasan al-Tikriti. Number 10, queen of diamonds. Iraqi air defence force commander. In US custody on April 23.

Zuhayr Talib Abd al-Sattar al Naqib. Number 21, seven of hearts. Director of military intelligence. In US custody on April 23.

Mohammad Mahdi al-Salih, Number 48, six of hearts. Minister of trade. In US custody on April 23.

Mohammad Hamza al-Zubaidi. Number 18, queen of spades. The former prime minister was handed to US troops on April 21. He was one of the rare Shiite Muslim members of the regime.

Jamal Mustafa Abdullah Sultan. Number 40, nine of clubs. The Iraqi National Congress umbrella opposition group said on April 20 that he had been persuaded to surrender. He was later handed to US troops.

Humam abd al-Khaliq al-Ghafar. Number 54, four of hearts. Former Iraqi minister of higher education and scientific research. Captured on April 19.

Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi. Number 45, eight of diamonds. Former finance minister and deputy prime minister. Captured on April 18.

Samir al-Aziz al-Najim. Number 24, four of clubs. Former oil minister and senior Baath party leader in eastern Baghdad. Captured on April 17.

Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti. Number 52, five of clubs. Saddam's half-brother. Former head of feared intelligence service and presidential advisor. Captured on April 17.

Watban Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti. Number 51, five of spades. Saddam's half-brother. Former presidential advisor and one-time interior minister. Captured on April 13.